Prineville’s 20-year-old mayor-elect Zach Levesque shares priorities, hopes for community

Prineville, Ore. (KTVZ) — At just 20 years old, Zach Levesque is preparing to become Prineville’s next mayor. But the mayor-elect says his focus is on listening to residents, preserving the city’s small-town character and helping young people see a future in the community.

Levesque spoke with KTVZ News on Thursday about what inspired him to run for office and what he hopes to accomplish when his two-year term begins in January.

Born and raised in Prineville, Levesque graduated from Crook County High School before attending college and pursuing a career in real estate. He said he began considering a run for mayor after noticing that no one had stepped forward as a candidate.

After speaking with people about the responsibilities of the position, he decided to enter the race.

“I thought, you know what? I could step up and I could do this,” Levesque said.

Levesque was the only named candidate on the ballot in Tuesday’s general election. According to unofficial results from the Oregon Secretary of State, updated early Wednesday morning, he received 3,269 votes, compared with 289 write-in votes.

The election follows the resignation of former Mayor Jason Beebe, who stepped down in June, citing personal reasons. Beebe had served as mayor since 2021 and previously served on the City Council.

As he prepares to take office, Levesque said his first priority will be meeting with residents and community leaders to better understand what people want for Prineville.

“I’m not there for my own interest,” Levesque said. “And so part of that is taking my own interest out of it and hearing what the collective of the community wants.”

He also emphasized the importance of preserving the close-knit atmosphere that residents associate with Prineville.

Levesque described the community as a place where people can walk down the street, recognize someone they know and stop for a conversation.

Looking ahead, he said he wants younger generations to feel welcome building their lives in Prineville.

“Part of what I want to see is I want to see young people have a reason to stay here,” Levesque said.

Prineville operates under a council-manager form of government. As mayor, Levesque will serve as a voting member of the City Council, which establishes city policies and priorities. The city manager oversees day-to-day operations and carries out council decisions.

Levesque is expected to begin his two-year term at the first City Council meeting of 2027.

Asked what he hopes residents will say about his leadership a year from now, Levesque said he wants people to know he acted in the community’s best interests.

“I want to go in and people say, man, Zach really stands up for us and what we want for Prineville,” he said.